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Columbia Gorge Community College strives to provide a safe environment in which students can pursue their education free of the detrimental effects of sexual assault, misconduct and discrimination. Therefore, the College seeks to educate students, faculty and staff about these issues and to provide a means of recourse for those individuals who believe they have experienced such behavior. The College reserves the right to respond with whatever measures it deems appropriate to prevent sexual misconduct and preserve the safety and well-being of its students and employees. We encourage anyone who has been a victim of sexual harassment, sexual violence, or discrimination to report the issue immediately.

Reporting a Title IX Related Complaint

Columbia Gorge Community College prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, religion, ethnicity, use of native language, national origin, sex, marital status, height/weight ratio, disability, veteran status, age, or sexual orientation in any area, activity, or operation of the College. Under the College's non-discrimination and non-harassment policy, equal opportunity for employment, admission, and participation in the College's benefits and services shall be extended to all persons. For questions or concerns contact Mike Taphouse, CGCC Title IX Coordinator, at 541-506-6026 or at mtaphouse@cgcc.edu.

Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against, a victim of assault or harassment, or witnessed such behavior, by a College employee, representative or student is encouraged to submit the Complaint Form as early as possible following the incident. The complaint will be considered anonymous if requested by the reporting individual. However, there are steps within the Student Conduct process that may require providing further testimony in order to substantiate the complaint. In addition, students, faculty, and staff who believe that their Civil Rights may have been violated have the right to submit a complaint to the US Department of Health and Human Services: Office of Civil Rights for further review.

For ADA accommodations, please contact Disability Resources at least three working days in advance of request.

The College prohibits sexual misconduct in any form. Sexual misconduct is a broad term encompassing any unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature that is committed without consent or by force, intimidation, coercion or manipulation. Sexual misconduct can occur between persons of the same or different genders.

Examples include, but are not limited to:

Sexual assault: Any actual or attempted sexual contact made without a person's consent.

Stalking: A course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their or others' safety, or to suffer substantial emotional distress.

Dating violence: Includes violence by a person who has been in a romantic or intimate relationship with the victim. Whether there was such a relationship will be gaged by its length, type, and frequency of interaction.

Domestic violence: Includes asserted violent misdemeanor and felony offenses committed by the victim's current or former spouse, current or former cohabitant, person similarly situated under domestic or family violence law or anyone else protected under domestic or family violence law.

Retaliation: Retaliation means any adverse treatment that is taken because a person engaged in protected activity (e.g., opposing discriminatory practices, filing a complaint, or participating in an investigation).

Sexual harassment: Any unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that is sufficiently severe or persistent or pervasive such that it unreasonably interferes with, limits or deprives someone of the ability to participate in or benefit from the college’s educational programs or employment opportunities. The unwelcome behavior may be based on power differentials (quid pro quo), the creation of a hostile environment or retaliation. A single instance of sexual assault may be sufficient to constitute a hostile environment. Sexual Harassment CGCC Board Policy.

What is Consent?

A freely and affirmatively communicated willingness to participate in a sexual activity, expressed by clear, unambiguous words or actions. It is the responsibility of the initiator of the sexual activity to ensure that he or she has the other person's consent to engage in sexual activity. Consent must be present throughout the sexual activity by all parties involved. At any time, a participant can communicate that he or she no longer consents to continuing the activity. Consent may never be obtained through the use of force, coercion, or intimidation or if the victim is mentally or physically disabled or unable to consent, including through the use of drugs or alcohol.

It is the policy of Columbia Gorge Community College and its Board of Education that there will be no unlawful discrimination or harassment on the grounds of race, color, sex, marital status, national origin, religion, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, and any other status protected by applicable local, state, or federal law in any educational programs, activities, or employment. Courtney Judah, Director of Human Resources.